People are in the magic card, instigating rebellion against the world.

Chapter 203: Zhi Shi's Attitude Value Breakthrough! He Forms a Bond with the Spiritual Artifact, the Jade of Unity! (Bonus Chapter: 1.9 words)

"Go for it, Sakura! Be more natural in your pose so Tomoyo can take a better photo!" Ye Hui said.

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +9】

Afterwards, Ye Hui found a wooden bench nearby and sat down, placing Zhi Shi's handbag beside him, his gaze falling on the two girls playing in the sea of ​​flowers.

Sakura, dressed in a light pink tracksuit, wandered among the colorful tulips, occasionally reaching out to gently touch the petals, her face beaming with a pure and radiant smile, like a little fairy who had wandered into a flower field.

Tomoyo, holding a camera, followed slowly behind Sakura, intently capturing every moment of her life, recording videos and snapping photos frantically.

One is moving, the other is still.

Between movement and stillness.

Yet it was surprisingly harmonious.

It created an exceptionally beautiful scene.

Ye Hui looked at them, a smile unconsciously spreading across his face, feeling calm and content.

"Master, what are Tomoyo and the others doing? They're holding that black thing and pointing it at Sakura. Are they looking for something? I always see them like this. It's so interesting." Aozaki's voice rang in Ye Hui's mind, filled with curiosity.

It transformed into a brooch and perched on the collar, revealing human figures, but the movements of the two were not quite clear.

“They are recording the beauty of life,” Ye Hui replied, his gaze still fixed on the sea of ​​flowers.

"Record?" Qingque asked, puzzled. "What does 'record' mean? Does it mean memorizing things like Master did during cultivation?"

"It's similar, but also different." Ye Hui patiently explained, "Simply put, it's about using a camera to record what you see, what you hear, and your current feelings in the form of images."

"That way, when time has passed and you want to recall what happened today, you can take out the camera and see these scenes again, as if you've returned to the present."

"Oh..." Qingque nodded as if she understood, and gently scratched Ye Hui's collar with her little paws. "Then why don't you record it, Master? You can also use that thing to take pictures of Tomoyo and Sakura."

Ye Hui did not answer immediately. He looked at the two girls interacting in the sea of ​​flowers in the distance with a gentle gaze.

For him, keeping this heartwarming scene in his heart is more meaningful than recording it with a camera.

If he wanted to go back, he could simply recall his own memories.

It can even import memories into the viewing stone and retrieve them at any time.

So there's actually not much need for him to be constantly holding up a camera to film.

Of course, Tomoyo is not incapable of doing this.

However, sometimes, filming with a camera is just a hobby.

This hobby is not affected by anything else.

[You watched as the Heavenly Spirit Root disciple, Kinomoto Sakura, and the Dharma Protector, Daidouji Tomoyo, frolicked among the flowers, filled with disdain! Were these mere ordinary mortal flowers really worth their fuss and excitement? Back then, the spiritual flowers and herbs you cultivated on the back mountain of your cave were all imbued with rich spiritual power, their blooms drawing upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Were any of them not a thousand times more precious than these mortals?]

Ye Hui: “…”

System, could you please stop sending these jarring messages every time we're having a heartwarming moment?
He rolled his eyes inwardly, ignored the system logs, and continued to enjoy the moment.

"Ye Huijun! Come and take a picture with us! It looks better when everyone takes a picture together!"

Just then, Xiaoying noticed Ye Hui sitting on the bench. She stopped and waved vigorously at him through the sea of ​​flowers.

"Okay, I'm here." Ye Hui smiled, stood up, dusted himself off, and walked towards them.

"Ye Huijun, stand next to Xiaoying, right in front of that field of yellow tulips." Tomoyo began to direct, holding the camera and gesturing the angle. "Yes, get a little closer, closer to Xiaoying... Xiaoying, put your hand on Ye Huijun's shoulder, smile more happily, and look at the camera."

Sakura raised her hand shyly and gently placed it on Ye Hui's shoulder, her cheeks flushed.

Ye Hui, on the other hand, seemed quite natural. He turned his head slightly and gave the camera a gentle smile.

"Crack!"

Tomoyo pressed the shutter, capturing the moment.

She looked down at the image on the camera screen and nodded in satisfaction: "Perfect! The lighting, angle, and expression are all just right. This photo will definitely be one of the best photos of the day!"

"Tomoyo, I want to take a picture with you too! We haven't taken a picture together in the tulip field yet!" Sakura suddenly remembered that she hadn't taken a picture with Tomoyo alone, so she ran over and grabbed Tomoyo's hand.

“Okay, let’s take some pictures together.” Tomoyo agreed with a smile, then handed the camera to Ye Hui. “Ye Hui-kun, please take a few pictures for us, just from the angle you were at earlier.”

"Happy to help." Ye Hui took the camera, and following Tomoyo's example, carefully adjusted the parameters and angles, and then began to direct, "Tomoyo-chan, stand a little to the left, the pink tulips there are blooming more beautifully. Sakura, you can lean against Tomoyo a little, don't be so reserved."

Following his instructions, the two girls quickly assumed natural poses.

Tomoyo tilted her head slightly, a gentle smile on her face, while Sakura playfully made a peace sign at the camera, her other hand gently linking with Tomoyo's arm.

Ye Hui looked at the two people in the lens and gently pressed the shutter.

With a "click," another heartwarming photo was captured.

After taking photos, the three of them strolled leisurely through the tulip fields for a while.

Sunlight falls on the petals, making them shimmer, and the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers, creating a very pleasant atmosphere.

Xiao Ke was very curious about this sea of ​​tulips, and her previous aversion to the bitterness of the petals had completely disappeared.

It fluttered its little wings, sometimes flying to the pink tulip to gently smell its fragrance with its little nose, and sometimes flying to the yellow tulip to reach out its claws and touch the delicate petals.

The bluebird remained haughty, flying down from Ye Hui's collar and landing on a relatively tall purple tulip bud. It looked down at Xiao Ke, who was jumping around in the flower bushes, with its little head slightly raised and its eyes full of disdain.

"Hey Fatty Huang, be careful not to ruin anyone's flowers! If the manager sees us, we'll all be kicked out!" Qingque teased Xiao Ke.

"What do you know, you bald bird! I'm appreciating art! These flowers are so beautiful, I should be able to appreciate them properly!" Xiao Ke retorted, but subconsciously retracted its claws, though it still wouldn't let up with its words, "And you, what are you doing standing on the flowers? Don't drop your feathers on them, it's affecting their beauty!"

The two little ones started another round of bickering.

Ye Hui stood aside watching, listening to Sakura's occasional attempts to mediate, and Tomoyo's gentle laughter.

And of course, there was the sound of the two little ones bickering.

Suddenly I felt more relaxed than ever before.

"Ye Huijun, what are you looking at? You seem so engrossed."

Tomoyo appeared beside him at some point, holding a camera in her hand, her purple eyes filled with curiosity. But following his gaze, all he could see was a field of tulips.

"It's nothing, I just think the weather is really nice today, and it's very comfortable to stroll around here with you all," Ye Hui said with a smile, shaking his head.

Tomoyo followed his gaze and looked around.

In the distance, Sakura is chasing a colorful butterfly as she runs through the flowers.

Not far away, Xiao Ke and Qing Que were still arguing about who knew better how to appreciate flowers.

She smiled and nodded, softly agreeing, "Yes, the weather is really nice today."

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +12】

We whiled away almost an hour in the tulip fields.

Tomoyo's camera is already filled with Sakura from all angles and in all poses.

There are dynamic shots of people running through flowerbeds, close-ups of them smiling at the camera, and photos of them posing with tulips.

The satisfied fashion designer and photographer finally announced that they were wrapping up and suggested moving on to the next location.

Ye Hui and his group walked along the stone path and soon found a wooden bench near the artificial lake. They decided to sit down and rest for a while.

The lake surface shimmered, and the sunlight sprinkled on the water like a layer of broken gold. Several gray wild ducks swam leisurely in the lake, occasionally lowering their heads to peck at the fish and shrimp in the water, and occasionally flapping their wings to splash up small water droplets.

"I'm so tired, my legs are sore from walking for so long, but I'm so happy!" Sakura sat on a bench, swinging her legs back and forth, supporting herself with her hands behind her back, and looking up at the sky.

"Here, have something to drink to replenish your energy." Ye Hui said, taking out three clear glass bottles filled with light pink juice, and handing two bottles to Sakura and Tomoyo.

"It's juice made by Ye Huijun! Yay, it's my favorite!" Sakura's eyes lit up as she happily took the bottle and eagerly unscrewed the cap.

"Thank you, Ye Huijun." Zhi Shi took it and smiled gently at him.

Ye Hui opened a bottle himself and took a sip.

The fruit juice has a light fruity aroma, a sweet taste, and a hint of coolness. As it slides down the throat, it instantly relieves the fatigue from walking.

"It's so delicious! I feel like I've come back to life! Now I can go to several places again!" Sakura exclaimed with satisfaction after drinking more than half the bottle in one go.

"You're always exaggerating." Ye Hui smiled helplessly, reaching out to gently pinch her soft cheek.

"No way, I'm not exaggerating! This juice is just that delicious!" Sakura slapped his hand away, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned her face away shyly before taking another sip of the juice.

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +10]

Tomoyo sipped her drink, her gaze fixed on the shimmering lake surface, lost in thought.

Sunlight fell on her profile, outlining a soft contour, and her long eyelashes cast a light shadow under her eyelids, making her look very gentle.

Looking at her quiet and beautiful appearance, Ye Hui suddenly felt a stirring in his heart.

Since helping Tomoyo break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, he had clearly felt that Tomoyo trusted him more.

Although she maintained her usual politeness and reserve, and spoke and acted gently and appropriately, she would occasionally reveal a different kind of closeness and dependence.

For example, when we were taking pictures in the flower field just now, she was completely unsuspecting and naturally handed her small handbag to him for safekeeping.

It was a trust that came from the heart, and an unconscious closeness.

I wonder what her current stance is?

Has it already broken through the previous sixty points?
Ye Hui thought to himself, and couldn't help but call out to the system in his mind.

"Tongzi, please check Tomoyo's current attitude."

[Searching... Search successful!]

[Tomoyo Daidouji's current attitude rating: 70 (Friendly → Approachable)]

Seventy points!
Ye Hui was delighted.

really!

The time we spent together was definitely worth it!
Hard work really pays off!

Although the increase from 60 to 70 points is only 10 points, the significance of this change is quite different.

Sixty points represents friendliness, indicating that she considers him a relatively important friend.

A closeness score of 70 indicates that Tomoyo-chan considers him one of the most important people in her life.

This has completely elevated to a much more intimate position!

Perhaps they've gone beyond being good friends and are developing into something more special.

For example, childhood sweethearts.

He looked at Tomoyo, who was quietly drinking her juice beside him, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, filled with anticipation.

Perhaps, it won't be long before we see Tomoyo's attitude points continue to rise.

[Ding! It has been detected that the Guardian Daidouji Tomoyo's attitude points towards you have reached 70 points, and your Daoist bond has entered a new stage!]

Tomoyo Daidouji's feelings for you have evolved from trust and dependence into a deeper affection! She's willing to share her secrets with you and longs to know everything about you! You've become an indispensable part of her life!

[Ding! You have received a "Dao Yuan Gift Pack" x1!]

[Do you wish to activate the "Daoist Affinity Gift Pack"?]

"Start!" Ye Hui said without hesitation.

When Zhi Shi's attitude points reached 60, the gift pack gave him a Nascent Soul stage cultivation technique, which greatly improved his cultivation system.

With this breakthrough of 70 points, he vaguely hoped to gain something different, such as something more suitable for their relationship.

After all, he no longer has such an urgent need for basic cultivation techniques; instead, he hopes to have an opportunity to strengthen his bond with Zhishi.

[Ding! You have obtained a special spiritual artifact—the "Jade of Unity"!]

Ok?
Jade of Unity?
Detailed information about this magical artifact instantly flashed through Ye Hui's mind, as clear as if it were engraved in his memory.

[The Jade of Unity: A spiritual artifact forging bonds, crafted from meteorite iron and moonstone. It exists in pairs; the left jade serves as the "Guardian," and the right as the "Contract." Wearers can achieve a deep connection through the jade pendants, sensing each other's emotions without words, and even transcending distance to transmit sound across vast distances! In times of crisis, the two pendants will form a resonant barrier, jointly resisting the invasion of inner demons and stabilizing the Dao heart! This jade possesses a spirit and only recognizes those with compatible hearts as its master. If there is any estrangement or if it is forcibly worn, the pendant will automatically conceal its spiritual power, becoming like an ordinary stone.]

Well, to put it simply...

This is not just a pair of super walkie-talkies that can communicate at any time.

It also comes with a double buff: strengthening one's Dao heart and defending against inner demons.

More importantly, it comes with a built-in sentiment verification function.

This is real proof of our bond!

A subtle warmth welled up in Ye Hui's heart, and his fingers unconsciously caressed the fabric, as if he could already touch the warm texture of the jade pendant.

[You have obtained the Jade of Love, a token of your Daoist bond! You are eager to present the "Contract" Jade to the Dharma Protector, Daodao Temple Tomoyo, to completely bind her to your Daoist destiny, to turn her against you, and to make her fall under your calm, reliable, and powerful charm!]

What the hell is this fall...?

However, it cannot be denied that the Tongxin Jade is indeed a rare and precious item.

It can enhance mutual understanding and communication in daily life.

If danger were to arise in the future, this jade pendant could serve as a protective barrier for Zhi Shi.

Most importantly, its trigger condition is mutual affection.

In other words, if Zhi Shi can successfully wear and activate the "Qi" jade, it means that the two people's feelings have reached the level of compatibility recognized by the jade pendant.

This bond will no longer be a one-sided defection, but a two-way journey.
Ye Hui kept these thoughts to himself for the time being, deciding to explain them to Zhi Shi at a suitable time.

Taking out this magical artifact now might make her, who is usually reserved, feel awkward.

"Ye Hui-kun? What are you thinking about? You're so engrossed that you didn't even hear Sakura asking you a question." Tomoyo's voice rang in Ye Hui's ear.

Ye Hui looked up and saw that she was tilting her head slightly, her gaze fixed on his face, her eyes clear and gentle. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell on the tips of her hair, gilding them with a light gold.

Wow! It's absolutely gorgeous!

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about where we can go next to make things more fun for you guys," Ye Hui said with a smile, covering up the mistake and smoothly steer the conversation towards the itinerary. "What did Xiaoying ask just now?"

"I asked if we should go to the rainforest exhibit next!" Before Tomoyo could answer, Sakura raised her hand and waved the guide map in her hand. "Tomoyo said the rainforest exhibit is nearby, and there are lots of plants that we don't usually see, and even mushrooms that glow! I don't know if it's true or not."

Tomoyo took the guide map and leaned closer, pointing to the green area marked on the map: "I just read the introduction. The tropical rainforest pavilion is a closed glass greenhouse that simulates a tropical climate. It has special plants such as traveler's palm and pitcher plant, and I heard there is also a small artificial waterfall. The environment should be very special."

"Yay! Let's go see the tropical plants!" Sakura exclaimed happily, all the fatigue from her earlier rest gone. She grabbed Tomoyo's hand and headed towards the greenhouse.

"Wait, let's confirm the route first." Tomoyo smiled and pulled her aside, then looked at Ye Hui, "What do you think, Ye Hui-kun?"

"I have no objection, you can decide for yourselves." Ye Hui stood up and helped Zhi Shi pick up the small handbag that was on the bench. "But it's best to take off your coat before going in, the temperature in the greenhouse should be quite high."

"Oh right! I almost forgot!" Sakura quickly took off her coat, rolled it up, and hugged it to her chest.

Xiao Ke peeked out of her backpack and asked, "Are there lots of delicious fruits in the rainforest? Like mangoes and pineapples?"

"All you ever think about is eating!" Sakura reached out and gently flicked its head. "The plants there are for ornamental purposes, not for you to eat as snacks!"

Ye Hui looked at the two, a man and a beast, playing around in front of him, and then at Zhi Shi, who was diligently organizing the tour map beside him. He felt extremely peaceful.

Ye Hui felt that he was growing to like this simple yet heartwarming daily life more and more.

It's even more satisfying than someone cultivating in seclusion and watching their cultivation level rise rapidly.

This is probably... the Dao Heart.

[You're engrossed in your daily playful interactions with Kinomoto Sakura, a disciple of the Heavenly Spiritual Root, and Daidouji Tomoyo, a guardian deity. Your already meager Foundation Establishment stage strength has further diminished, and now, with no motivation to improve, your cultivation has completely stagnated!]

Ye Hui: “…”

System, I urge you to be kind.

The glass exterior of the rainforest pavilion gleams in the sunlight, making it look like a crystal palace from afar.

As soon as you push open the door, a wave of humid, hot air hits you, carrying a rich, fresh scent of grass and trees, creating a stark contrast with the cool breeze outside, making you feel as if you've instantly stepped into a real tropical jungle.

The temperature inside the building was significantly higher, around 26°C, and you could feel the fine moisture on exposed skin.

"It's so warm here! It feels much more comfortable than outside!" As soon as she entered the rainforest pavilion, Xiaoying couldn't help but exclaim. She quickly draped the jacket she was holding over her arm, leaving her only in a short-sleeved shirt, revealing her slender arms.

"This place simulates the climate of a tropical rainforest. To allow tropical plants to grow normally, the temperature and humidity are much higher than outside, maintained at around 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is above 80%." Tomoyo explained as she took out a tissue from her bag and gently wiped the fine sweat from Sakura's forehead. "However, this kind of environment does make people feel very relaxed, just like being in the tropics."

"Wow, Master, the wood elemental energy here is so abundant!" Qingque's voice rang in Ye Hui's mind, filled with excitement. It flew out from Ye Hui's collar and landed on his shoulder, its little head looking around. "Although these plants are not spirit herbs, they grow so lushly and densely, and the wood elemental energy they gather is quite pure."

"Yes, indeed." Ye Hui nodded, sensing the spiritual energy around him.

A faint woody aura permeated the air; though not as strong as that contained within spiritual herbs, it was gentle and long-lasting.

With each breath, one could feel a refreshing sensation; it was indeed a good temporary cultivation environment.

However, his purpose today was to spend time with Sakura and Tomoyo; he'd deal with the training later.
"Look! That tree is so tall! It feels taller than our school building!" Sakura suddenly pointed to a tall, towering tree not far away, her face full of amazement, and pulled Tomoyo along as they ran over.

It was a Hopea tree, with a straight and thick trunk and lush branches and leaves that stretched all the way to the glass at the top of the greenhouse, like a huge green umbrella that blocked out the sun.

"Huh, what kind of flower is this? It looks so strange! It looks like a little bottle!" Kero flew out of Sakura's schoolbag and curiously flew to a pitcher plant. It circled the drooping pitcher twice and couldn't help but reach out its little paws to gently poke the opening of the pitcher.

As soon as it touched the pitcher plant, its lid snapped shut with a loud "snap," almost trapping its little claws inside.

"Whoa! That scared me to death! How can this thing move!" Keroberos screamed in fright, flapping its wings rapidly and instantly flying onto Sakura's shoulder, escaping the scene of the crime.

"Hahaha! Kero, don't touch it! This is a pitcher plant, it eats small insects. If you poke it again, it might mistake you for an insect and eat you!" Sakura laughed when she saw its disheveled appearance and gently patted its back.

Ye Hui and Zhi Shi watched from the side, smiles on their faces.

Tomoyo even took out a camera and recorded the way Kero was scared, then said with a smile, "You have to save this clip; it'll be really funny to watch later."

Xiao Ke: (°°) 。 。 。

Ye Hui and his companions strolled slowly through the tropical rainforest pavilion, seeing many unique plants.

They saw the dancing grass whose leaves swayed gently to the music, and smelled the legendary corpse flower. The strange, putrid odor made Sakura wrinkle her nose and stay far away, exclaiming that it stank too badly.

Xiao Ke was even nearly drenched by the artificial misting system installed inside the venue.

The spray suddenly burst out from the grass. Fortunately, Ye Hui reacted quickly and pulled Xiao Ke back a step, so they weren't sprayed and only got splashed with a few water droplets.

By the time we came out of the rainforest pavilion, it was already getting dark.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a warm orange-red hue on the ground, bathing the botanical garden in its glow.

"It's getting late, we should head back now. It might get a bit dark on the way if we stay any longer," Tomoyo said to Sakura and Ye Hui, glancing at the time on her phone.

"Huh? Are we going back so soon? I haven't had enough fun yet! We saw a pitcher plant in the rainforest pavilion earlier, and I wanted to see how it eats insects!" Sakura said, still looking excited.

"Come again next time. The botanical garden isn't going anywhere. Let's come back to play when we have time on the weekend. We can go to the succulent plant area then. The succulents there should be especially cute." Ye Hui reached out and rubbed her head.

"Okay then." Sakura nodded, then asked expectantly, "Ye Hui-kun, what are we going to eat tonight? I'm starving after walking around all day!"

"How about I cook you a big meal when we get home? I'll make you the cola chicken wings and tomato beef brisket that you wanted today," Ye Hui agreed with a smile.

He had already planned the menu for the evening and was just waiting to go back and show off his skills.

"Yay! Ye Huijun, you're the best!"

On the way back, Sakura and Tomoyo sat side by side in the back seat, leaning against each other with their heads close together, looking through the photos and videos Tomoyo had taken that day.

The light from the phone screen shone on their faces, which were full of smiles.

"Tomoyo, you filmed this so beautifully! Look at this shot, when I was running through the tulip field, the sunlight fell perfectly on my hair, it looked so gentle! I'm definitely not some scary monster, my brother just wronged me!" Sakura looked at herself in the video, full of admiration, and said, "Tomoyo, you're simply the most professional photographer in the world!"

"It's alright, that's because Sakura is naturally cute. She looks good no matter how you're photographed. You're even more dazzling than a tulip in the photos," Tomoyo said gently.

Ye Hui sat down next to them, listening to the two girls' conversation.

He recalled the 70 attitude points Zhi Shi had given him during the day, and couldn't help but feel hopeful.

Tomoyo, who has reached 70 points, already trusts and relies on him so much.

Then the next 80 points, 90 points.
What kind of scene will it be?
He quietly opened the system panel, looked at the emotion value displayed on it, and felt a surge of satisfaction.

[Emotional Value (View Bond Target): 6188 points].

It has been a while since the last lottery draw.

Now that I've accumulated so many emotional points, it's time for another lucky draw.

I wonder if I'll be able to get any clues about the fire elemental root in this lottery.

With that thought in mind, Ye Hui decided that after seeing Sakura and Tomoyo off that evening and returning to his villa, he would immediately use his emotional points to exchange for an adventure map and do a five-pull to see if he could get what he wanted!
That evening, Ye Hui kept his promise and cooked a sumptuous dinner for Xiaoying and Zhishi.

Cola chicken wings, tomato beef brisket, garlic broccoli, and a light egg drop soup.
There were many ingredients, filling the entire table.

Fortunately, he is now an excellent cook and has an exceptionally high level of experience in his side job.

When cooking, you can use magic to help, so cooking is actually very quick and won't take too long.

The whole meal was over.

Sakura ate with great relish, even finishing two bowls of rice, and kept praising Ye Hui's cooking skills.

after eating.

Ye Hui escorted Xiaoying and Zhishi to their respective doorsteps, and only after watching them enter safely did he turn around and return to his own villa.

As soon as he entered, he eagerly said to the system, "System, exchange five adventure maps with my emotion points!"

[Ding! 5000 Emotion Points have been consumed to redeem 5 Adventure Maps! Remaining Emotion Points: 1188!]

"Very good, Commander, now open these five adventure maps. I want to see what I can get this time!" Ye Hui rubbed his hands together.

Although Ye Hui knew that the lottery in the adventure map was purely based on luck, whether or not he could draw clues related to the fire spirit root depended entirely on probability.

But when Ye Hui thought about having Sakura and Tomoyo by his side, two people with a knack for bringing good luck, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

After all, the time spent with them made even cultivation go exceptionally smoothly. Perhaps this good fortune can even extend to the lottery?
[5 Adventure Maps Activated... Map Derivation in Progress... Adventure Scene Generation in Progress...]

[Adventure 1: While strolling through the back mountains of your sect, you come across an ancient pine tree, its branches gnarled and twisted, exuding a Zen-like aura. You sit cross-legged beneath it and meditate. Three days later, a tender green bud sprouts from beneath the bark, a drop of dew clinging to its tip. Upon falling to the ground, it transforms into a palm-sized map. Following the map, you unearth a rusty jade box beneath a stone platform in an abandoned herb garden deep within the back mountains. Opening it, a fragrant aroma fills the air, and you obtain—Sword Intent Grass x1!]

Sword Intent Grass?
Ye Hui raised an eyebrow. This herb was the main ingredient for refining the Sword Intent Pill, which could help people comprehend the essence of swordsmanship after consumption.

Okay.

[Second Serendipity: You've heard that your sect has recently acquired a rare gold-devouring beast. This beast doesn't eat grains, only metal. Intrigued, you go to the spirit beast enclosure to observe it. Seeing the gold-devouring beast cuddling with its cage, you casually toss a gold coin from your storage bag. After swallowing it, the beast rolls its throat for a moment and then spits out a bronze plaque engraved with intricate patterns. Unfolding the patterns on the back of the plaque reveals a map! Following the map, you find an ancient book bound in animal hide in the cellar of the sect's weapon-refining room. You obtain—"The Hundred Refinements of Weapons"!]

Ye Hui paused, opened the ancient book, and discovered that "The Hundred Refinements of Weapons" was not a traditional weapon-refining manual, but a detailed illustrated guide and analysis manual of weapon-refining materials.

It records the properties of thousands of rare and precious materials, minerals, and divine iron.

From common refined iron and mithril to rare meteorite iron and dragon scale steel, the materials even include purification methods and suitable weapon-making techniques for each material, making them highly practical.

[Adventure Three: You pass by the martial arts arena and see several sect disciples practicing their newly learned spell, "Palm Thunder." One disciple, lacking control, misses, and the thunderbolt blows directly at the thatched roof of a nearby latrine. As everyone screams and scrambles to avoid the excrement, you notice several blobs of strawberry-shaped tarts briefly hovering in the air, forming a blurry map of stars. Following the map, you find a jade slip containing the power of lightning inside the core of a lightning-struck tree on the east side of the arena. After infusing it with spiritual energy, you gain the supernatural ability "Lightning Control!"]

[Controlling Lightning and Electricity: Can summon divine lightning from the heavens to temper oneself or attack enemies, and can also control all electrical currents in the mortal realm!]

I want to know how I encountered this extraordinary event.

Ye Hui's expression turned somewhat strange.

Is he that awesome?

Just by looking at a few strawberry towers, you can find a map?
Upon seeing the description of the supernatural power, Ye Hui raised his eyebrows.

It's alright to summon the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, as it has something in common with the Five Thunder Orthodox Method he previously mastered.

What kind of operation is it to manipulate the electricity in the mortal world?
However, thinking about it more deeply, this supernatural power is simply a divine skill in modern society!
For example, hacking into electronic devices, cutting off surveillance, and manipulating traffic lights.

They even manipulate the city's power grid at critical moments.
Thinking hard!
[Adventure Four: You attempt to refine a "Qi Gathering Pill" in the alchemy room, but a misjudgment of the heat causes the furnace to explode again, sending fragments flying. One sparking porcelain shard flies towards the door, striking the guardian deity Daidouji Tomoyo who is delivering materials. Instead of being angry, she quickly enters, takes out a handkerchief, gently wipes the dust from your face, and hands the shard back to you, smiling as she says the cracks on the shard resemble fireworks, quite beautiful. Taking the shard, you discover that the cracks form a miniature map! Following the map, you find a red lotus encased in ice crystals at the center of the crater of an extinct volcano on the outskirts of the city. You obtain—1 Seed of Earthfire Red Lotus!]

Earthfire Red Lotus!

Ye Hui was overjoyed.

This is a legendary fire-type treasure born from the raging flames of the earth's veins!
Lotus seeds contain pure fire-attribute spiritual power, which can not only help one comprehend the way of fire, but also is one of the key opportunities for one to condense a fire spiritual root!

He carefully placed the lotus seed into the specially made jade box, feeling somewhat excited.

This is the scene where the map was discovered.
If you want a map, just say so!

I really don't even want to act anymore.

[Five Serendipitous Encounters: You cultivate until late at night, then fall into a deep sleep. In your dream, you find yourself playing chess under a peach tree with Kinomoto Sakura, a disciple of the Heavenly Spiritual Root. The chess game is unpredictable, eventually transforming into a dazzling star map. From the flowing star map, you glean a glimpse of the mysteries of heaven and earth. Upon waking, you draw the star map onto paper from memory. Just as you finish, a white crane flies in through the window, picks up the drawing, and flies eastward. Following the crane's trail and your memory, you arrive at the secluded valley where an ancient cultivator has passed away. In a jade box beside the remains, you discover—a Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart (Imitation) x1!]

[Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart (Imitation): An acquired treasure crafted by an ancient master in imitation of the "Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart" of a primordial deity. Resembling glass, it contains seven apertures. Wearing it grants enlightenment, protects against inner demons, prevents all evil from invading, greatly enhances cultivation comprehension, and allows one to see through all illusions and illusions, remaining unaffected by magic.]

Ye Hui picked up the clear, glassy heart; it felt slightly cool to the touch, and a faint spiritual light seemed to flow within it.

He could feel that after wearing it, the flow of spiritual energy around him became clearer, and even the slight stagnation he felt during his previous cultivation was reduced.

It seems this treasure can not only aid in cultivation but also defend against illusions; it's practically tailor-made for the upcoming Judgment Moon War.

Then, this can be given to both Sakura and Tomoyo.

Anyway, it's one thing, so everyone can use it together.

Pretty good.

After collecting all the rewards...

Ye Hui sat cross-legged on the bed and entered a meditative state once again.

……

Monday arrived in the blink of an eye, and the sunlight shone on the desks, bringing the warmth of the morning.

Ye Hui had just sat down and taken out his textbook when he saw Xiaoying carrying a red backpack and holding a brand-new photo album, walking excitedly towards him and Zhi Shi.

"Ye Huijun! Zhi Shi! Look!" She gently unfolded the photo album on the table between the three of them. The album cover was light pink and had a small tulip sticker on it.

The album is filled with photos of the drama performance from last Friday's talent show.

From the tense and busy preparations backstage to the wonderful moments on stage, every scene was clearly captured.

"These are photos from the play!" Tomoyo's eyes lit up instantly. She took the album and slowly flipped through the pages, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face. "Sakura, your brother's photography skills are amazing! He even captured our subtle expressions on stage so clearly. It's fantastic."

When Tomoyo came across a photo of Sakura and herself in a scene together, she couldn't help but admire it.

The photos in the album are indeed professional-grade; both the composition and the timing of the shots are excellent.

"Hehe, right!" Sakura scratched her head a little shyly after hearing Tomoyo's praise. "Although my brother always teases me, like taking my snacks, making fun of me for being stupid, and calling me a big monster, oh dear, I'm so angry now, cough cough, but when it really matters, my brother is quite reliable!"

Sakura got angry at herself halfway through her sentence.

She paused, then added with a smile, "But mainly it's because the clothes you designed are so beautiful! They look good no matter how you photograph them!"

"Thank you, Sakura." Tomoyo's purple eyes curved into a gentle smile as she reached out and touched Sakura's hair.

Just as Ye Hui, Xiao Ying, and Zhi Shi were admiring the photos, Li Meiling walked in from the classroom door with her head drooping and looking listless.

Her shoulders slumped slightly, and her usually energetic steps became unusually heavy. Even her ponytail had lost its usual fluffiness and hung limply down her back.

She walked to her seat, silently put down her schoolbag, and instead of taking out snacks or textbooks as usual, she lay down on the table, crossed her arms under her head, and remained motionless.

"Hmm? What's wrong with Meiling?" Sakura noticed Meiling's unusual behavior, put down the photo album, and blinked. "She usually greets us as soon as she enters the classroom, but why is she so quiet today, and she looks unhappy?"

"I don't know, she seems to have something on her mind, and she's in a really bad mood." Tomoyo also looked in Li Meiling's direction. "She was fine last week, how come she's like this after just one weekend?"

Ye Hui stroked his chin, and he had a rough idea of ​​what was going on.

Based on the timeline, Li Meiling should have received a message from the Li family around this time.

It's most likely about arrangements to return to Hong Kong.

Her special feelings for Li Xiaolang turned this matter into a source of worry and distress for her.

However, he didn't say it immediately, since it was Li Meiling's private matter and she needed to be willing to speak up.

"I'll go check on Meiling and ask her if she's feeling unwell." Sakura closed the photo album, gently placed it on the table, and walked towards Meiling's seat.

"Meiling, what's wrong? Did you not sleep well?" Sakura walked over to Li Meiling and bent down.

Li Meiling lay on the table, shook her head, and said in a muffled voice, her voice coming through her arm and sounding somewhat indistinct: "I'm fine, just a little tired."

"You're in this state, and you still say you're fine." Xiaoying clearly didn't believe her. She knew Li Meiling too well. Usually, even if she was really tired, she would say it openly, instead of being so silent like this.

She thought for a moment, then turned and ran back to her seat, picked up the play photo album, and quickly walked back, handing the album to Li Meiling: "Meiling, look, these are photos my brother took of us from the play. There's a picture of you playing the crow! You spread your arms to imitate the crow's flight, and you looked so cool in the picture!"

Sakura originally wanted to use these funny photos to distract Li Meiling and cheer her up.

After all, Li Meiling practiced her movements in front of the mirror for a long time in order to play the role of Crow well.

They'll probably be interested in their own photos.

However, Li Meiling simply raised her head slowly, glanced at herself in the photo album with a somewhat vacant look, and instead of discussing it excitedly as usual, she simply said, "It's a pretty good photo."

Then he buried his head in his arms again and fell silent.

Even photos can't attract her anymore; it seems Meiling has really run into some trouble this time.

Sakura watched her lonely figure and felt even more worried. She wanted to say something to comfort her, but the bell for class suddenly rang.

"I'll go back to my seat now, and we can talk again after class." Sakura had no choice but to give up for the time being, gently patted Li Meiling's shoulder, and turned back to her seat.

Li Meiling remained absent-minded throughout the morning.

During class, when the teacher called on her to ask a question, she didn't react several times and had to be reminded by the classmate next to her to answer.

After the bell rang, she didn't chat with Sakura and the others as usual. Instead, she just sat on her desk, lost in thought.

Sakura tried several times during breaks to talk to Li Meiling and find out what had happened, but Li Meiling always shut her down with the words "I'm fine."

Ye Hui saw this and silently mouthed to Xiaoying, "Lunch break."

Sakura was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.

Ye Huijun wanted her to wait until lunch break, find a quiet place, and then have a proper talk with Meiling.

After all, lunch break is relatively long and there are no classes to disturb her, so perhaps Meiling would be willing to talk about her feelings during that time.

She nodded and made a mental note of it.

Finally, lunch break time arrived. As soon as the bell rang, Xiaoying quickly tidied up her desk, walked briskly to Li Meiling's seat, took her hand, and said softly, "Meiling, let's go for a walk in the grove behind the teaching building. There are fewer people there, and it's quiet. I have something I want to tell you."

Li Meiling hesitated for a moment, looking at Xiaoying's concerned eyes, and finally nodded gently, letting Xiaoying pull her along as they slowly walked towards the grove behind the teaching building.

Seeing this, Ye Hui and Zhi Shi exchanged a glance and followed suit in tacit agreement.

Sakura is simple-minded, and although her intentions are good, she may not be able to effectively guide Meiling's emotions.

They can go with us and lend a hand if necessary.

The grove is planted with many camphor trees, their branches and leaves are lush, and sunlight shines through the gaps, creating dappled light and shadow on the ground. The air is filled with a faint fragrance of grass and trees, making it a truly quiet place to talk.

Sakura pulled Li Meiling to an empty wooden bench, while Ye Hui and Zhi Shi sat down on the other side of the bench.

“Meiling, there’s no one here anymore. Can you tell us what happened?” Sakura sat down next to Meiling, looking at her with concern.

Tomoyo gently advised, "Yes, Meiling, you've been listless all morning. If you'd like, you can talk to us. Even if we can't help much, it's good to hear your story. It's better than keeping it all bottled up inside."

Li Meiling lowered her head, fiddling with the wood grain of the bench, and remained silent for a long time.

The leaves of the camphor tree rustled gently in the wind, creating a quiet atmosphere for a moment.

Just when Sakura thought she was going to refuse to speak again, as before.

Li Meiling finally raised her head and said something that surprised both Sakura and Tomoyo: "I'm going back to Hong Kong..."

"Huh? You're going back? Why? Didn't you say you were going to stay here for a long time? When are you leaving?" Sakura exclaimed in surprise.

"I'm leaving next week," Li Meiling said, her voice even lower.

"Why so suddenly? There wasn't any warning at all." Tomoyo was also a little surprised. Looking at Li Meiling's reddened eyes, she roughly guessed what had happened. "Did something happen at home?"

Li Meiling sniffed, her eyes red: "My mom called me last night and told me to come home. She didn't say anything special, just that I've had enough fun outside and it's time for me to come home and study hard."

"Did you tell your aunt? Did you tell her you don't want to go back yet, that you still have us as friends here, and that there are still many things you haven't finished?" Tomoyo asked softly, trying to guide her to express her thoughts.

“I told her, but she wouldn’t agree.” Li Meiling shook her head, tears finally welling up in her eyes. “She also said that I’ve been bothering Little Wolf for too long, and if I stay any longer, it will affect Little Wolf’s studies and cultivation…”

It turned out to be the case.

Ye Hui understood.

Li Meiling's mother probably felt that her daughter stayed in Yuzhi Town more to accompany Li Xiaolang, but she was also worried about delaying the two of them, so she insisted that she go back.

Meiling's special feelings for Xiaolang made the order to leave even more hurtful.

While Sakura and Tomoyo were still figuring out how to comfort Li Meiling and whether to help her communicate with her family again,

There were footsteps in the distance.

Li Xiaolang walked over from the direction of the teaching building.

He must have come specifically to see Li Meiling.

However, when Li Xiaolang saw Ye Hui and Zhi Shi by the bench, he paused for a moment, but quickly regained his composure and walked towards them.

He stopped in front of Li Meiling, and instead of asking about her feelings, he said, "Have you told your teacher that you are going back to Hong Kong? Transferring schools requires a lot of procedures, such as student records and proof of leaving school. You need to prepare them as soon as possible, otherwise it will delay your studies."

His very first words were full of typical straight-male "concern".

Moreover, even Sakura couldn't help but frown upon hearing this.

What time is it? Can't you see Meiling is still sad? And you still want to bring up some paperwork.
Li Meiling's face darkened further. She abruptly stood up from the bench, staring into Li Xiaolang's eyes: "Xiaolang, I'm going back to Hong Kong... don't you care at all? I'm leaving, and all you care about is whether my paperwork is done?"

Li Xiaolang was taken aback by her sudden excitement.

Looking at Li Meiling's red eyes, he felt a strange sense of panic, but he maintained his usual cool demeanor: "There's nothing I can do. Your mother has already decided to let you go back, so these procedures definitely need to be done in advance, otherwise it will be very troublesome later."

"Whether I go back or not, it's the same to you!" Li Meiling's tears finally fell, sliding down her cheeks. "Have you already found me annoying? Do you think it's particularly irritating that I follow you around and pester you every day? If I stay here, won't I only get in your way, affecting your cultivation and preventing you from doing your own things?"

"Huh? That's not what I meant!" Li Xiaolang panicked when he saw her crying.

He wanted to step forward and reach out to wipe away her tears, but he stopped in mid-air, unsure of what to do. He could only awkwardly explain, "I don't find you annoying, really not. Your presence here doesn't bother me at all, on the contrary... anyway, no!"

[The Dao Heart of the genius disciple Li Xiaolang is undergoing an unprecedented shock! His pride in his composure and cultivation seems so pale and powerless in the face of the tears of the body-cultivating girl Li Meiling!]

Ye Hui watched from the side and sighed silently.

Li Xiaolang, your emotional intelligence is so low it's worrying.

At times like this, saying "I don't want you to leave" is more effective than "I'm not going to talk about procedures or things that haven't been done."

"Little wolf! You big idiot!" Li Meiling cried out, then turned around abruptly and ran out of the grove.

"Mei Ling!" Li Xiaolang called out, but stood there blankly, watching her run away, at a loss for what to do.

"Li, what are you standing there for? Go after her!" Sakura couldn't help but urge her, stamping her feet in frustration. "This isn't the time to daydream. You need to explain your thoughts to Meiling, otherwise she'll keep misunderstanding you!"

"Huh? Oh... Oh!" Li Xiaolang suddenly snapped out of his daze and came back to his senses.

He didn't even have time to say goodbye to Ye Hui and the others before he took off chasing after Li Meiling in the direction she had run off in, his steps hurried.

Watching their figures gradually disappear at the end of the grove, one after the other, and then being obscured by the dense camphor trees.

Sakura sighed softly, her brows still furrowed with worry: "Is Meiling... alright? She was crying so hard just now."

"It should be fine." Tomoyo walked over to Sakura and patted her shoulder. "Since Li was willing to chase after her, it means he cares about Meiling. He's just not good at expressing himself. If the two of them spend some time alone and talk things out, they should be able to clear up the misunderstanding."

“But I always feel that Meiling is really heartbroken this time.” Sakura was still a little worried. “She didn’t want to go back to Hong Kong so much, and she cared so much about what Syaoran thought. Now she has to leave with a misunderstanding. It’s so pitiful.”

"It's difficult for outsiders to interfere in matters of the heart." Ye Hui leaned back on the bench, looking in the direction where the two had disappeared, and slowly said, "Whether it's Meiling's reluctance or Xiaolang's inability to express himself, these are hurdles that the two of them must overcome."

"Only when they truly understand and articulate it can they untie the knot in their hearts."

"What we can do now is give them some space to communicate alone, and then quietly support them when they need it."

"Ye Huijun is right." Zhi Shi nodded in deep agreement.

She turned to look at Sakura, reached out to smooth her furrowed brow, and said gently, "Sakura, don't worry too much."

"Although Meiling usually seems carefree and full of energy, she is actually a very strong girl and will not be easily defeated by such a small thing."

"I believe she will be able to adjust her emotions soon, and even if she really has to go back to Hong Kong, she will leave with happy memories."

"Hmm..." Sakura listened to Tomoyo's comforting words and looked at Ye Hui's calm expression. Her worries lessened a little, and she nodded gently.

After a moment of silence, Sakura asked, somewhat disappointed, "So, Meiling... is she really going back to Hong Kong?"

Tomoyo nodded: "Since Meiling's mother has already made her decision and her attitude is so firm, it's probably hard to change it. It's just that the way they said goodbye in such a quarrelsome way is really..."

"That's terrible!" Sakura chimed in, her face scrunched up. "Li is really something. He's clearly worried about Meiling and cares about her a lot, but every time he says something, it's so unpleasant, and sometimes it even hurts people. If only he could speak like Ye Huijun."

Upon hearing this, Ye Hui couldn't help but chuckle and shrug: "It's clear how terrible it is to be bad at expressing yourself. Sometimes, even with good intentions, things can get worse because you can't say what you mean or you say the wrong thing. But Li Xiaolang is just too nervous. Once he talks to Meiling, things should be fine."

The atmosphere in the classroom was noticeably more subdued than usual during the afternoon classes.

Li Meiling was unusually quiet, lying face down on the desk, holding a thick Chinese textbook up to cover her face, with only a small section of her hair showing.

Sunlight streamed through the window onto her textbook, but she didn't even lift her eyelids, completely lacking the energy she used to have during class, when she would occasionally whisper snacks to Sakura or secretly draw little figures in her notebook.

Even when the school bell rang, she slowly took her textbook out of her bag.

Later, when the teacher called her name and asked her to answer the central idea of ​​the text, she reluctantly stood up from her seat, her head slightly drooping, her voice weak and listless. She casually read a couple of sentences from the textbook's annotations and then lowered her head, waiting for the teacher to let her sit down.

He didn't look at the blackboard once during the entire process, nor did he scratch his head with a smile even when he couldn't answer, as he usually does. He seemed to have all his strength drained away.

Li Xiaolang, sitting diagonally in front of him, was sitting upright with his back straight, his eyes fixed on the blackboard, and he was holding a pen in his hand, as if he was taking notes seriously.

But Ye Hui could clearly sense that his attention was not on the textbook at all.

Because the pen lingered on the paper for a long time, but only drew a few messy horizontal lines. Although his eyes were fixed on the blackboard, they were not focused. Occasionally, he would unconsciously glance in Li Meiling's direction out of the corner of his eye, but each time he would quickly look away and pretend to be nonchalant.

Xiaoying, sitting in front of Ye Hui, felt even more uneasy.

Every few minutes, she would quietly turn around, first glancing at Meiling, who was slumped over the table, then at Li Xiaolang, who was sitting upright but absent-minded. Her brows were furrowed, her fingers were repeatedly stroking the textbook, and her face was full of struggle as she pondered whether she should go and persuade the two of them again.

Tomoyo sat quietly next to Ye Hui, listening attentively to the teacher's lecture. She would occasionally take notes, but she would also exchange glances with Ye Hui when the teacher turned around to write on the blackboard.

Ye Hui silently grumbled to himself.

Li Xiaolang is usually quite decisive when dealing with Clow Card incidents, so why does he become so clumsy when it comes to matters of the heart?

He was clearly worried sick, and after chasing after her, he didn't know what he said, but when he came back, they were still in this stalemate, and he couldn't even say a kind word.

His emotional intelligence is probably not even as high as the old tree in front of his house.

You are disdainful of your genius disciple Li Xiaolang's clumsy performance in the love tribulation. You believe that if it were you, you could easily win over the Dharma Protector Daodao Temple Zhishi with just a few words, instead of being as helpless as him!

Ye Hui: “…”

The system certainly knows how to pick its timing for this comparison.

Finally, the school bell rang, signaling the end of the school day.

Ms. Mizuki announced from the podium, "That's all for today. School's out."

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Meiling immediately stood up from the table and quickly stuffed her textbooks and notebooks into her schoolbag. She didn't even have time to put her pen in her pencil case before grabbing it in her hand.

She moved quickly and urgently, ready to rush out of the classroom as soon as possible, not wanting to stay for another second.

Li Xiaolang was clearly aware of this as well.

He stood up abruptly almost the instant Li Meiling stood up.

The chair leg immediately scraped against the ground with a screeching sound.

He didn't bother to pack his things, and walked over to Li Meiling's desk in a few steps, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible nervousness: "Meiling..."

However, Li Meiling acted as if she hadn't heard him at all, and didn't even turn her head.

She zipped up her backpack with a click, then slung it over her shoulder and walked past Li Xiaolang toward the classroom door without stopping.

Li Xiaolang subconsciously reached out, as if to grab her backpack strap, but his hand froze halfway through, his fingers curling slightly.

He stood there, watching Li Meiling's figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance, her figure appearing particularly lonely in the empty classroom, her face full of helplessness.

"Why didn't Li stop Meiling?!" Sakura was so anxious when she saw this that she almost stood up.

Just then, Ye Hui softly called out, "Sakura."

Sakura immediately turned around, her eyes filled with anxiety.

Ye Hui winked at her and then quietly pointed to Li Meiling, who was almost at the classroom door.

The meaning is clear: it's the only appropriate thing for her to do now.

Sakura immediately understood.

She couldn't let Meiling leave alone again, otherwise the misunderstanding would only deepen!
"Meiling, wait a minute!" she shouted, not even bothering to tidy up her things on her desk, grabbing her schoolbag and chasing after him towards the classroom door, forgetting to push her chair back under the desk.

Tomoyo watched Sakura run away, then glanced at Li Xiaolang, who was still frozen in place with a dejected look in his eyes, before finally turning her gaze to Ye Hui with a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

Tomoyo: Are you sure this will work?

Ye Hui shrugged at her calmly: Just give it to Xiaoying.

Seeing Ye Hui's composed demeanor, Zhi Shi blinked.

It seems that Ye Huijun had already come up with a solution.

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +8】

[You witnessed the falling out between the genius disciple Li Xiaolang and the body-cultivating girl Li Meiling, yet you did not intervene. Instead, you instigated the Heavenly Spiritual Root disciple Kinomoto Sakura to seize the opportunity and pull Li Meiling into your camp. The Guardian Daidouji Tomoyo applauded your subtle strategy of stirring up trouble and seemingly wanting to create chaos!]

Ye Hui stood up and walked towards the classroom door, ready to see if Xiaoying could successfully keep Meiling.

In the corridor, Sakura finally caught up with Li Meiling at the stairwell.

She ran up to Li Meiling, panting, and opened her arms to block her way: "Meiling, wait a minute!"

Li Meiling stopped and slowly turned around. Her face was expressionless, and her voice sounded calm: "I'm fine, Kinomoto. I just want to go home and rest as soon as possible."

"Don't lie to me! Something's definitely wrong!" Sakura puffed out her cheeks. "You've been unhappy since noon, how could nothing be wrong?"

Li Meiling lowered her eyes, avoiding Sakura's gaze: "I'm really fine, Kinomoto. Let me go home. I want to be alone for a while."

"No!" Sakura answered decisively. "I know you're upset right now, and I know you don't want to listen to anyone's advice, but if you go home alone, you'll only get more upset! You can't go alone today. Either you come to my house with me, or I'll go to your house with you. In short, I won't leave you alone!"

Sakura knew in her heart that if Meiling were to go home alone like this...

She'll definitely hide in her room and overthink things, feeling more and more wronged, and might even secretly shed tears!
But what reason could be used to persuade the stubborn Meiling to stay?

Sakura's little brain was working at lightning speed.

They said they wanted to do homework together?

No, Meiling has no interest in studying right now.

Want to read the new comics together?
It doesn't seem appealing enough...

Berry Ling paused.

"Um, Meiling, why don't you come to my house to play?" Sakura couldn't think of a better way, so she could only try to ask.

“Actually, I really just need to be alone for a while,” Li Meiling sighed. “And why should I go?”

"Because...because..." Sakura was speechless when asked the question. She was so anxious that she kept rubbing her hands together, her cheeks turned red, and she was annoyed that she couldn't think of a good reason.

He even subconsciously made an embarrassed expression.

Sakura: ／(≧x≦)＼ Ahhhhh~

Just then, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Before Dad left this morning, he said he would bake her favorite chocolate cake tonight and also cook his best dishes!
This reason will definitely work!

"Because my dad baked a really delicious chocolate cake today!" Sakura's eyes lit up as she enthusiastically promoted it. "My dad's cake is so good! The cake base is so soft, the cream on top isn't greasy at all, and he sprinkles lots of chopped nuts on top. I guarantee it's better than any dessert shop I've ever been to! And it's not just cakes, my dad is also a great cook!"

Ye Hui and Zhi Shi, who were following behind, couldn't help but smile as they watched Sakura gesticulate wildly as she described the delicious food her father was making, mimicking his gestures and imitations, as if afraid Meiling wouldn't believe them.

Sakura's anxious yet earnest demeanor is truly adorable.

Ye Hui chuckled inwardly.

Using delicious food to lure a sad and hungry person is indeed a good idea.

After all, as the saying goes, there's nothing a good meal can't solve.

If so, then two meals.

Looking into Xiaoying's bright eyes and listening to her vividly describe the taste of the cake and dishes, Li Meiling's stomach unexpectedly growled.

Because she was in a bad mood today, she only ate a slice of bread in the morning and didn't eat a single bite of food at noon. Now, after Xiaoying said that, the hunger in her stomach surged up instantly, and even the grievances in her heart faded a bit.

Sakura keenly caught the voice and immediately seized the opportunity, gently pulling on Li Meiling's arm: "And...and I also want to have a good chat with you!"

Li Meiling looked at Xiaoying, then touched her empty stomach, remained silent for a few seconds, and finally nodded gently: "Okay."

"Really?" Sakura jumped up in surprise, grabbing Meiling's arm and shaking it. "That's great!"

Li Meiling sniffed, a little embarrassed: "Then I'll go to your house today and bother you. Will I be causing trouble for your uncle?"

"No, no! My dad loves it when people come over for dinner!" Sakura quickly waved her hand and pulled Meiling along as they hurried toward the school gate.

After walking a few steps, Sakura suddenly remembered something, turned around and waved to Ye Hui and Tomoyo: "Ye Hui-kun, Tomoyo, you two have to come too! My dad makes a lot of dishes, there will be enough for two more people!"

Ye Hui and Zhi Shi exchanged a glance, seeing a knowing smile in each other's eyes.

Tomoyo said softly, "It looks like I'll get to enjoy Uncle Kinomoto's cooking again today."

"We're in for a treat," Ye Hui thought to himself, stroking his chin.

Why not enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal, watch Sakura comfort Meiling, and observe how things develop?

[You witnessed Kinomoto Sakura, a disciple with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, successfully turning Li Meiling, a body-cultivating girl who was in a low mood, against her! Li Meiling was originally the protector of the genius disciple Li Xiaolang, but now she has been corrupted by Kinomoto Sakura's sweet talk and has temporarily put aside her resentment towards Li Xiaolang!]

[You admire Sakura Kinomoto's psychological manipulation tactics and decide to observe and learn from her, so that you can use a gentler approach to deepen your bond with Tomoyo Daidouji in the future!]

"Ye Huijun, let's hurry up and catch up." Zhi Shi took a step and walked towards the school gate.

"Okay." Ye Hui nodded and followed.

The two quickened their pace and soon caught up with Li Meiling and Xiaoying, who were walking ahead.

Sakura asked curiously, "Meiling, why are you walking so fast? There's no rush, my dad is still preparing the ingredients."

Li Meiling paused, then muttered, "I'm afraid you'll change your mind."

"I won't go back on my word!" Sakura raised her hand to assure everyone. "We promised to have a big meal at my house, and I definitely will! My dad makes a huge cake; it'll be enough for us!"

Li Meiling hummed in agreement, took a few steps in silence, and then hesitated before asking, "Then... um... Little Wolf... he didn't follow, did he?"

Sakura glanced back at the empty corridor, where only a few students were passing by. There was no sign of Li Xiaolang. She answered truthfully, "No, he seems to have gone back to the classroom to pack his things. He was still standing there when we left."

"Oh..." Upon hearing this answer, Li Meiling's eyes dimmed slightly, and her fingers unconsciously tightened their grip on her backpack strap, but she quickly regained her composure, only slowing her pace a bit.

Ye Hui followed behind, watching all of this unfold, and sighed silently in his heart.

Li Xiaolang, you'd better be more careful.

At times like these, even just following behind and seeing them off for a short distance is helpful.

It's better than letting Meiling be disappointed alone.

Even he, as an observer, was getting anxious.

If Li Xiaolang could just open his eyes even a little bit...
However, despite his anxiety, he had no intention of interfering.

After all, this is a theme song from a youth drama featuring Li Xiaolang and Li Meiling.

Misunderstandings, grievances, and unspoken concerns are all processes they must go through themselves.

Unsolicited intervention by outsiders could disrupt the rhythm of the relationship between the two.

He was content to just be an audience member with Sakura and Tomoyo, watching the two teenagers slowly clear up their misunderstandings.

It's also a great way to boost your mood points, perfect!

"Let's go! I'm already looking forward to Uncle Tenglong's dinner!" Ye Hui took the initiative to change the subject.

"Yes, yes, yes! My dad's cooking is so delicious! Especially the cola chicken wings. He first fries the chicken wings until they are golden brown, then simmers them in cola, and finally reduces the sauce until it's very rich and flavorful. One bite and it's so fragrant and tender!" Xiaoying perked up as she talked about her dad's cooking skills.

She tugged at Li Meiling's arm, who was still looking a bit down, and shook her arm: "Meiling, you're really in for a treat today! My dad baked this cake, and he even made the cream on top specially. It's not greasy at all, you'll definitely love it!"

Li Meiling couldn't help but laugh at Xiaoying's food salesman act, her lips curving upwards slightly, and the disappointment in her eyes lessened considerably.

She nodded slightly, her voice becoming lighter: "Then...then I won't stand on ceremony today, I'll have to try Uncle Tenglong's cooking."

Sakura's straightforward way of comforting others, though simple and even a bit rough, was surprisingly effective.

After all, for someone who is both heartbroken and hungry, no amount of gentle words of comfort can compare to the practical message, "I'll take you out for a nice meal."
The satisfaction brought by delicious food can always soothe the wrinkles in one's heart the fastest.

The four of them walked together toward the Kinomoto family's house.

The setting sun cast long shadows of them onto the sidewalk, swaying from side to side with their footsteps.

“Speaking of which, Meiling, you’ve been to my house before, haven’t you? Do you remember the way?” Sakura turned her head and asked Meiling beside her.

“Of course I remember!” Li Meiling nodded, but after a pause, she added in a low voice, “But last time… last time I came with Xiaolang.”

Seeing this, Tomoyo smiled and subtly steered the conversation in another direction: "Sakura's house is really cozy. I always feel very relaxed when I go there."

"Fujitaka's father is very thoughtful. Last time I had a cold, he specially brewed ginger tea for me. As for Touya, although he always likes to joke with Sakura and is sharp-tongued, he actually cares about Sakura a lot. I remember once when Sakura forgot her umbrella, he specially came to our school to bring her an umbrella."

Ye Hui followed them, listening to the girls chat about harmless everyday matters.

This routine of walking home together after school has now become a part of his life.

He would occasionally chime in with a few words, making Sakura and Meiling laugh heartily, and also causing Tomoyo to cover her mouth and chuckle softly.

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +9]

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +9】

[Li Meiling's mood score +6]

The sun gradually sank below the horizon, and the sky slowly darkened.

The streetlights along the roadside lit up one after another, their warm yellow light illuminating the way home.

Soon, Ye Hui and his group arrived at the door of the Kinomoto family's house.

Before I could even knock, a rich aroma of food wafted out from the yard.

"It smells so good! Dad must have made lots of delicious food again today!" Sakura couldn't hold back any longer and eagerly pushed open the yard gate, shouting into the house, "Dad! Brother! I'm home! I also brought Ye Huijun, Tomoyo, and Meiling with me!"

"Welcome back, Sakura." Fujitaka's gentle voice came from the kitchen.

Then, wearing a light blue apron and holding a silver spatula, he poked his head out from the kitchen doorway with a friendly smile on his face, "Ye-kun, Zhi-shi, and Mei-ling, welcome to my home. Please come in and have a seat."

"Excuse me, Uncle Fujitaka," Ye Hui, Zhi Shi, and Li Meiling greeted in unison.

Just then, Touya came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of freshly cooked cola chicken wings. The chicken wings were golden in color and still steaming.

He saw a large group of people standing at the door, and when he saw Ye Hui, his brows furrowed as usual. However, he didn't say anything, but turned around and went back to the kitchen, took out a few more sets of bowls and chopsticks, and put them on the dining table in the living room. He muttered, "Really, they never say a word before they come. Luckily, Dad makes a lot of dishes."

【Kinomoto Touya’s Emotion Value +10】

Ye Hui had long been accustomed to Touya and even felt a sense of familiarity with him.

After all, every time Touya frowned and glared at him, he would eventually silently help prepare the tableware or hand him a drink, a typical example of saying one thing and meaning another.

If Touya ever sees him without frowning, he might feel strange.

(End of this chapter)